Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).
Chapter One: New Divide
Luana sat quietly in her cell, bound to the small wooden chair. Sleep that night had been difficult to achieve in her position, to say nothing that the lack of ability to address her other necessities did to her. Still, she sat quietly, without struggling, without even cursing or bemoaning her fate. After all, she had been quite cognizant of what her fate would be when she acted…and she knew how her foes must perceive her now….
The cell door's locks clicked as they came undone, and the door swung ponderously open. She glanced up and stared at her visitor…Erstin Ho. Erstin's eyes were red and puffy from lack of sleep and crying. She stood there, staring down at the captive. "Ers-chan," Luana murmured. "That's funny…maybe I should have expected it…but I'm surprised that you're the first one to see me…."
"Why, Luana-nee-chan?" Erstin demanded. "Why…why did you do all of this?"
"What, 'all of this'?" Luana smiled slightly. "Whatever do you mean, Ers-chan…? I'm simply following Eminus-sama, as I always have."
"That's all you have to say for yourself!?" Erstin burst out. "All this…was that really Eminus-sama's will!? Nina-chan…Nina-chan was hurt so badly…she might not wake up…all of this is really what he wanted…what you wanted…!?"
Luana waited several moments before replying. "We…always knew that you weren't one of the ones who could…handle the harder life. The path. You cried so hard when Eminus-sama said you had to leave, when we took you to Wind Bloom. This is what we always wanted to save you from. This is the hard reality of the world, not the pleasant image painted behind safe walls and idealistic lessons. This world is hard, cruel, and as beautiful and wonderful as it can be at times, it is a place far from perfection. Right now, it is also the battleground between two opposing life forms. As humans, as denizens of this world, perhaps we should have always hated the Obsidian Star and what they were doing, but…because it was by them that we were saved, we felt we had no choice but to see things from their point of view. This world will know tragedy…but it will be reborn as something better. That's been the belief that's carried us. We never wanted anything to happen to you…or to any of your friends, really. It was misfortune that put all of you in the crossfire, a cruel quirk of fate that made all of you so vulnerable to this. I'm sorry for what happened, Ers-chan. But I'm not penitent. I can't be. I accepted tragedy as a possible outcome long ago. And whether I beg forgiveness or renounce all that I am and have done, I cannot undo the past, and it won't help your friend any." She shook her head. "You should go and leave me, Ers-chan. I was so, so happy to see you again, to see that so much good has happened to you…but now, nothing more but pain can come between us. Unless you plan to use me as the outlet for your vengeance, there's nothing for you here."
Erstin still stared at Luana for several long seconds, but the older girl simply looked away, no longer meeting her eyes. Then the heavy cell door opened again, and Nodoka and Shiho stepped inside. "That's enough, Ers-chan," Shiho said softly. "This girl has nothing else to offer you, as she said." Her eyes flashed devilishly. "For us, however, it's a different story. In return for what her friends did to Nina-chan, I'll make sure to learn everything she knows and especially the very worst…."
"W-we shouldn't be too cruel…" Nodoka objected as Erstin quickly vacated the room. "Even this…it's a little much…she's not responsible for…."
"Those who support the evil organization knowingly are just as responsible for everything they do," Shiho countered. "People can't get off saying they are nothing but secretaries for the mass-murdering megalomaniac. Even if she isn't personally responsible, she's enabled it all, and she is responsible for the kidnapping of your beloved sensei. You can't act as if you don't have any ill feelings towards her, after all…."
But Shiho was surprised by the strength in the mousy girl's returned stare. "No. That doesn't matter. That kind of thing is what makes us different from them…we can't just…give in to hate…Kain-sensei refused to, after all. If I…betrayed that…I'd hate myself more than I'd hate anyone else…."
As Shiho found herself reluctantly subdued by Nodoka's determined moral stand, Luana chuckled and said, "Well, as noble as your moral high ground is, little mind-reader, the HiME-chan is quite right. I won't excuse myself. We're on opposite sides…so while I say I might not approve of everything that happens, I'm still supporting it, and, from your point of view, I'm a villain." She glanced up at them with a smile. "From your speech, HiME-chan, I suppose you have some method of reading minds as well as this one…you're Miyazaki Nodoka-chan, right? Well, go ahead and ask any questions you like. I'll tell you everything I know. After all, I know it's pointless to resist."
8-8-8
It was still quite early. The recent interrogation of Luana had taken place before dawn had officially broken—few had found sleep an easy prey to catch that night. But now a crowd had gathered—most of the Soul Reapers, Kisuke and Yoruichi, Artoria and her knights, Mashiro and the HiME pillars, Takamichi, Meia, and the rest of their team, Kurt, Makarov and several of his best guildmembers, including 'Team Natsu', Jade and Overcast, Delryn, Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis, Minsc and Aerie, Inuyasha, and many of Kain's students, particularly Kagome, Nodoka, Yue, Chisame, Erika, and Hinagiku, along with Shiho, who entered last alongside Nodoka.
"So, did our young interrogators learn anything useful?" Shinji asked the final pair.
"Er, y-yes, quite a bit," Nodoka returned, glancing down at the book in her hands. She then turned her gaze Shiho's way briefly, but the other girl only nodded silently and smiled slightly at her. Gulping in a deep, steadying breath, Nodoka explained, "M-most of what we suspected was confirmed…last night the Obsidian Star 'officially' revived, by restoring the Obsidian Palace and placing it atop the replicated land of Takiva, the island-nation they are now calling 'Eldrant'. The Obsidian Prince has been revived in…in the body of Kalan Lockeheart. An impenetrable shield of time-space energy has surrounded the land around Orimus at a radius of fifteen kilometers, preventing any exit or entry; and the Obsidian Star has restarted the same ritual they attempted twenty years ago, to bring the seven worlds of this Reality Sphere together in order to create a new, permanent world of endless mana."
"But how did they get the ritual started?" Kurt demanded, pushing at his glasses. The man still showed signs of injury he had received at the hands of his 'old friend', Takamichi, but obviously, once the Obsidian Star had been recognized as on the offensive last night, the two had postponed their own battle in order to defend the city. Kurt pressed: "Previously, they used the Crystal Princess, who sat in a throne in the Obsidian Palace that enabled them to use her power to alter the 'codes' of the realities of the seven worlds. It took them several hundred years to construct her and make the appropriate preparations…I do not believe she could have been replaced so easily, but if what you say is true, they began the ritual before they captured Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva…."
"Before they captured Tokiha Mai," Kisuke corrected. "Although that distinction makes little difference to us right now. Well, as to the how…I have suspicions, but no complete evidence. Previously, the three scientist brothers, Horius, Kalovus and Koltas Corai, worked diligently to acquire three powerful artifacts: The Always One, the Marble, and the Shapesphere. With those objects, you could theoretically build a kind of world-creating device."
He glanced over at Nodoka, who nodded in confirmation. "Yes…they created an artifact from those, the Obsidian Heart…."
"The Obsidian Heart…naturally. That would still only be part of it, though. They would need the royal blood of Kanev, of the creator of this world, to enable their ritual to exert dominance over those seven worlds…."
"I think they did have one before reclaiming Mai," Kamo murmured from his quiet position on Hinagiku's shoulder. As the gazes turned to him in surprise, he continued, "I never wanted to say anything before, because I didn't think it would do us much good; but in this situation, I think we may need to know about it. It's about the last known whereabouts and conditions of Kalan Lockeheart and Aeli Kanna…Lockeheart. As you all know, I accompanied the Red Wings during the last war, but when it was over, I took off on my own—I am a heroic spirit, after all, and the heroic actions of this generation were over at that point, so I missed most everything that happened in the twenty years since. By the time I dropped back in, Kalan was already gone. A little six-year-old kid named Kain Lockeheart was getting himself into trouble, though, and I saved him from a pack of wolves, then starting keeping an eye on him. I didn't 'officially' come back until his life was threatened at Mahora by Alysaser, the Herdsman. Since then I've been supporting him, but I really had no more idea than he did where his father was.
"But then, at Kyoto, we encountered Pakrov Eminus, and I knew the Obsidian Star was back…and I was worried. But I couldn't learn anything more until the Mahora Festival, when Jynx revealed himself to Kain in order to fulfill an old promise to his friend. Afterwards, we met with Jynx, who had somehow been essentially killed but had his life redirected by Kalan's peerless magic so that he could 'respawn' at Mahora Academy, in his specially-made dungeon underneath Library Island. Jynx shared a few secrets with Kain…but only talked in detail to me. And what I learned…would not have helped the kid, so I didn't pass it on… but here it is.
"After the war, when everyone went their way, Jynx felt compelled to stick with Kalan, even after they rescued Aeli and the two were married. When she became pregnant, they brought Mira in to help take care of her while Kalan and Jynx continued their adventures, hunting down dangerous magical monsters or rogue mages, the usual. The plan, however, was that after Kain was born, Kalan would take a breather and settle down, and Jynx was finally going his own way into Arcanus Myrror, and from there…well, it doesn't matter now. But one fateful December day, after Kain was born, just days before Jynx was going to depart, some crisis caught their attention, and the two men went out to deal with it, and while they were gone, a mysterious enemy attacked their home. Aeli had Mira take Kain and flee, and…the attacker took her. Kalan and Jynx returned, and immediately began to track the perpetrator…back into Arcanus Myrror. That was the last Mira ever saw of any of them, leaving her to start raising Kain alone, along with Kalan's uncle Harold.
"Jynx related the story further: they tracked the attacker to an obscure, isolated cave, and met him: another Eminus, like the ones they fought during the war, but this one, Pakrov Eminus, was quite different: the previous ones had all been clearly marked with the colors of their associated element in eyes and hair, but this one had multi-toned locks and heterochromatic eyes. He also wielded the powers of all four basic elements…and he was far stronger than any they had previously fought. He critically wounded Jynx before Kalan defeated him, and so Kalan had Jynx sent back to that 'respawn point' he'd made. And after that…well, we don't have anyone's word on what happened…."
"W-well…Luana-san was aware of the events," Nodoka replied. "I suppose…Eminus-san must have told her about it. Kalan-san entered that cave afterwards in pursuit of Aeli-sama, and found…the original Eminus-san, the scientist of the Obsidian Star who created them all. Kalan killed him, but…Pakrov Eminus-san was able to, well, 'rebuild' himself as 'the Remnant' of Eminus. He attacked Kalan-san from behind, and weakened him enough that…that the essence of the Obsidian Prince was able to possess him. But…he couldn't gain complete control…not immediately. Kalan-san wandered far from everyone he knew for ten years, too afraid of what he might do if and when he lost control to the Obsidian Prince, until he had no choice but to save Kain-sensei when he was a child…."
"That answers a lot of questions," Takamichi murmured. "It's…tragic to hear, but at least it settles matters. Aeli and Kalan both…now captives of the Obsidian Star, being used by them. Obviously, however, retrieving Mai-kun—the Crystal Princess—has been one of their paramount goals, but why would this Luana-kun sacrifice herself in order to capture Kain-kun as well? Why do they need him so badly…?"
"W-well…as Kuchiki-taichô revealed yesterday, although the Obsidian Prince is…is possessing Kalan-san's body, Kalan-san is…resisting him, or restricting him somehow. He doesn't have access to Kalan-san's power and strength, but neither does he have his own full powers. He's looking…for a better body to possess…and Kain-sensei's body, now so magically…changed…is perfect for him…."
"W-we can't let that happen!" Hinagiku suddenly burst out. "We can't let them take Kain-sensei away from us!"
"But…can they succeed?" Yue queried. "Kalan-san was an Archmage of the highest caliber, yet he is still a mere mortal, and he has apparently succeeded in resisting him to a great degree. But Kain-san…is more than a mortal now. Those very traits of his that they covet, would very likely also resist them…they would need something to break him down and make him weak enough to be taken over."
"That is enough," Byakuya Kuchiki rumbled. "That information—all these facts—are welcome for our understanding, but we've heard all we need to in that regard. Whether or not they possess a means to take possession of the body of Kain Lockeheart is not our current concern. It does not change our overall objective—we must find a means to enter the Obsidian Palace, defeat the Prince, destroy whatever machinations they have created to enable this ritual, and rescue those they have captured. Therefore, the important information, what we need to know, is: are there any means we can use to infiltrate the Obsidian Palace? Did the captive provide any useful information of this type?"
Nodoka looked at him fearfully, softly, before slowly nodding. "Y-yes. Luana-san gave us all the information she has on Eldrant and the Palace…its security systems, traps, safe points…and the likely location of the Crystal Princess."
"Then that's what we need," Meia declared. "We should prepare a team and attack as soon as we are able."
"Right!" Hinagiku insisted. "We'll get ready to go! We have to…!"
"No, I don't think so," Meia interjected. As the group looked at her in surprise, she continued, "None of the children can be permitted to go. It is far too dangerous. Our foremost duty is to keep you safe…and this last battle proves that this is beyond you…."
"It is well-said," Byakuya agreed. "We cannot be nursemaids and still battle the Obsidian Star. The children of Mahora Academy must remain here…none of you are prepared for this."
As the multitude of young ladies present began to protest this, a loud cough from Delryn silenced them all. "Well…I hope you aren't planning on including me in that description, Byakuya. Rather, you should reconsider that whole position." As Byakuya fixed his cold stare on the young man, Delryn continued, "How do you suggest we get everyone out of danger? Right now, we're all sealed inside this magical sphere. We're stuck here until the Obsidian Star is defeated. So where can we go that's safe? We just sit here and wait for the battles to get over, and hope it all works out? There's nowhere to go."
He gestured to the collection of young ladies behind him. "These girls all need to get home. True, this crisis takes priority, but from what we've learned, the Gate that might go there is now inside that palace. Who knows what'll happen to it even if we're successful? It might be too far drained to be of use, or something. We need to rescue everyone and get them over to Earth while we can."
"The need to return these to their origin is hardly reason to expose them to danger such as this," Byakuya replied. "To wish to include them in a war for such a reason…."
"I don't disagree," Delryn assured him quickly. "If we could guarantee their safety at the cost of returning them home, I'd be with you pushing for it. But as I said, there's no guaranteed safety right now. We've seen that they can practically strike at us where and when they like right now. So if we can't keep them totally safe, why kill their chance to get home as well?
"But far more importantly, I think we need everyone…everyone here. You, me, the White Wings, the hinigami, the HiME, knights and BattleMages…everyone who can lend a hand needs to be part of this. It's just like when we had to rescue Erika from them. We're probably going to need the same sort of strategy here…one group to assault the citadel and draw their forces and attention, and one to sneak in where we can in order to break them from the inside…rescue Kain and the rest…and get them home. Even you guys don't have the forces here to pull all that off on your own."
"We're more than qualified for that," Kiami added with her quiet smile. "We have some of the best artifacts for stealth missions…most of which they should be quite unprepared for."
"We're ready for this," Hinagiku insisted. "If we're together and prepared, not even the Obsidian Star will be able to beat us!"
"You seem quite determined," Retsu Unohana suddenly interrupted. "That's good. But can you really endure this danger? All of you suffered quite gravely at the hands of the Obsidian Star last night. If you invade them, attack them in their home, you may face such beings again…or worse. Are you prepared for that?"
There was a sigh and chuckle from Chisame, and all the attention focused on her. The girl who was dynamite before her camera and yet helpless when exposed in reality coolly accepted all the attention with a sad smile. "Really, now…isn't it late for all of that? We've all made those decisions…many times over. Goodness, how I wish we could just run away…but like Delryn says, we've come too far for that. We're in danger no matter what we do. So we might as well do everything we can.
"And inside…there's Kain-sensei, Tokiha, Kalan-san, and Aeli-hime. And you guys may think they're your responsibility…but they're not. They're ours. We're Kain-sensei's disciples, and we've sworn ourselves to contracts with him and promised to help him out. Tokiha is our beloved president. And we all promised to help Kain -sensei in his quest to find his father…and now his mother has become part of the same equation. Rescuing them is our job. If we can't handle that…well, I've been with these loonies for too long. I don't think it's possible for them to fail in this situation."
"We've got to do it!" exclaimed Kaoru.
"No matter what, we have to be part of this," insisted Riku.
"There's no point to leaving us behind," supplied Erika.
"They're our friends! We have to do our part!" added Kagome.
"But still…" Tôshirô began.
"Let them go." The quiet speaker of this phrase was, surprisingly, Kurt Gödel. "They need to do it." He shook his head. "I suppose those of you who are against it never were in this position before, but I can see it…can't you, Takamichi? We once walked this same path. Although children, we insisted on following Kalan Lockeheart because we had nowhere else to go. Really, it's the same for these. What does it matter if they are safe, if they cannot return home, or be reunited with their friends? And that, that determination, more than anything else, perhaps, is what we require right now."
"Kalan Lockeheart was only fifteen years old when the war was won," Takamichi agreed. "Now…we can't say that this generation isn't in the hands of these girls…."
Shunsui chuckled, fingering his hat. "Well said, all of you. I'd say they're right…we have to do something. If it's just us invading, we'll be pretty obvious, and they'll be able to focus all their strength on us in their territory. If we split our main forces, will we have enough to stand up to them? Anyone who attacks the Palace will almost certainly face the full might of the Obsidian Star. We can't leave that to anyone else but the adults…so it's best to let the kids try and get to their sensei."
Meia gave a resigned sigh. "Very well, then. It's become obvious the tide of popular opinion has turned against me. It's out of my hands."
"We should prepare ourselves for battle," Jade put in. "We can probably spare up to two hours, but no longer. Make sure each of you is ready. We'll begin making the strategy."
As the group began to break up, Mashiro suddenly called out. "Chisame-san. Delryn." The two youths looked at her in surprise, and she motioned to them. "Come with me, please. There's something you should see."
8-8-8
Delryn's and Chisame's curiosity only increased as Mashiro (pushed along, as always, by Fumi) led them into the infirmary. Fumi opened one particular door and moved Mashiro out of the way, and the small girl gestured for the two to enter.
They did so, Delryn boldly leading and Chisame following carefully behind. Delryn's surprise redoubled as they spotted the woman sitting on the room's bed, obscuring the invalid occupant. "Mom? What are you…?"
And then both youths yelped as Iria turned to regard them…and Aiden leaned forward into their sight. "Hey, kids. How's it shaking?"
Both youths yelped and began to yell. Delryn overpowered Chisame and proclaimed, "What the hell, Dad!? I thought you were dead!"
"I was. I'm better now."
"You're better now!?" shrieked Chisame. "As if last night wasn't bad enough for us, with that creepy governor, the Obsidian Star attacking, that black phantom kicking our butts, the Obsidian Palace reappearing, and then Kain and Tokiha getting abducted…to top it all off, when we got back together they told me you were dead! Killed by the Prince! Our #1 trump card, knocked off when he was off-camera, like he was some redshirt! And NOW you show up out of nowhere, and you're 'better now'!? WHAT THE HELL!?"
Aiden laughed. "Well, that's how it is…my last trump card, as it were. They killed me, sure, but I designed a spell to take care of it."
Chisame sighed, calming. "Sheesh, such a broken character…you even had a spell designed to cheat death?" Then she stopped and squinted, looking at him carefully. "Oi, wait a minute…what is this, new and improved model?"
So flummoxed were the two youths by the initial encounter that they failed to notice, but there was something…certainly different about him. He looked 10-15 years younger, in point of fact. Now that attention had been drawn to it, Delryn noticed too. "What the…what kind of trick is this, Dad? You replace yourself with a clone of some sort now?"
"Something like that. 'Touch of the Grail' is an Entropy spell I've been working on for a long time…Kalan wasn't the only one researching about how to cheat death. After suffering a mortal wound I go into a random regeneration, warping either forwards or backwards chronologically…meaning I could end up younger or older. It's Entropy magic, so I can't choose—it's the potential drawback involved."
"Naturally, knowing his luck, he got his prime back," Iria said mock-scathingly. "Well, this is going to be really bad for me…the young firebrand has returned, and I'm still heading on the downhill of aging…."
"Oh, stop right there," Aiden said. "We'll discuss that kind of stuff after we put the kids to bed." Turning back to the pair, he said, "Well, if you're looking at me to be your savior riding in on a white horse, you better think again. I'm going to need time to recover from my 'regeneration'." He glanced between the pair, one to the other. "You wanted this, Kid. A chance to show me up…you're going to have to play the hero part, now." Then, to Chisame: "And you've lost your teacher and your team leader. You got plans to handle that?"
Chisame sighed. "Yes…we'll have to. No idea how we're even going to do it yet, but…it's all we can do."
A few rooms down, Nodoka and Yue were conversing outside in the hall.
"H-how…how is she…?"
The two gazed into the room, at Nina lying in the bed, her eyes closed, and Sargon sitting in the chair next to her, gripping her hand in his, and Arika sitting in another chair on the opposite side, sprawled across the bed in sleep.
Yue was silent for several moments. "She's fine…physically, she's fully healed, but…she won't wake up…even Kagome-san was unable to do more for her…."
"…I see…."
Yue shook her head and started away. "There's nothing more we can do here, Nodoka. We've...got to get ready, right?"
"Y-yes…." Nodoka hurried after her friend. "But, we have just a little time. I was…hoping to talk to you…because…your memory's returned, right…?"
"Y-yes, it has," Yue admitted. "I've remembered all kinds of things…about Mahora Academy, about Ami, and Yoshida-san and Ogata-san, and how we were members of the Library Exploration Club, and, well…the best of friends…."
Nodoka lit up in a truly visible way. "Yes, yes, that's right! The best of friends!" She grabbed Yue's hands, fairly bursting and overflowing with excitement. She had been waiting for this 'reunion' for more than four months, and meeting her best, most precious friend with her memory sealed had been perhaps even crueler than not seeing her at all. Now, to officially have her friend back….
"But…that's as far as it goes," Yue continued.
This brought Nodoka up short. In response to Nodoka's confused expression, Yue continued, eyes downcast, "I can only remember up to the winter of our second year of middle school; after that, there's nothing but indistinct fragments. I can't remember anything about Kain…san…or about how you and I ended up here in the magical world…. I can't grasp the connection between the magical world and our old world…it's like I'm remembering two completely different lives…."
Nodoka considered her friend carefully. ('I see…so she's still missing the memories of everything that happened since Kain-sensei came to our school…?') Aloud, she said, "But it was a magical discharge accident, right? I'm sure you'll remember the rest soon!"
"I-I'd sure like to think so…."
"Ah, but Yue…it's not 'Kain-san', but 'Kain-sensei'! He became our official teacher for our third year."
"O-our class teacher…y-yes, you've talked about that over…the past month…but putting that in perspective with my knowledge of Mahora Academy now…that doesn't make sense! He's just a boy our age, isn't he? Or…does he use that Kalan-san disguise at school…?"
"No, nothing like that…Kain-sensei is just really, really smart! And then both of us fell head-over-heels for him…really looked up to him…and we both decided that we'd become great mages one day, just like Kain-sensei!"
As Nodoka began to pace around, dreamily recalling her happy memories, her words impressed a set of different sensations on Yue. ('F-fell head-over-heels? W-what exactly does she mean by that? W-we're not normal teenage girls, obsessed with romance, unless something really weird happened to us at the end of our second year. Both of us at once? S-something isn't….') "N-Nodoka…you're saying we fell for Kain…sensei…at the same time…?"
"Eh? W-well, no…I…he saved me, and…I guess I fell for him first…but you fell for him along the way, too, which really isn't surprising at all…."
('No, no, that can't be right! If Nodoka actually had a boy she liked, there's no way I'd fall for the same person! I wouldn't dare do that to her! O-obviously she mistook my, what must have been just intense admiration for the brilliant mage, yes, she must have mistaken that for romantic feelings. These restless emotions that I've been feeling recently must be some sort of strange side-effect of the memory loss, and letting them go unchecked would be the greatest betrayal to my friend Nodoka….')
She finally noticed that Nodoka's face had fallen. She was staring out the window at the pre-dawn light somewhat sadly, concernedly. "Kain-sensei…" she murmured.
('That's right….') "Don't worry, Nodoka," Yue told her. "We'll save him…we have to, right?"
"Y-yes, of course," Nodoka replied, wiping at her eye and turning to her friend, and flashing her a brave smile. "Of course! We'll save him, and Mai-san, and his parents, and…and Nina-san will be okay, too!"
8-8-8
Luana ate her food in silence. She wasn't thinking about much, at the moment—it was easier that way—but she was grateful that, following her interrogation, she had been released from her bonds and allowed to take care of her necessities properly. She expected nothing more, however, and was surprised when her cell door opened again. She turned and stared at Kazumi as the girl entered, the door sliding shut behind her.
"Another visitor? How unexpected! You are…Yoshida Kazumi-san, yes? What could you possibly want from me?"
Kazumi's look was unreadable. Like Nodoka, Kazumi, a normally shy and rather reclusive girl who clung to support from her friends, had been forced to toughen and grow up over the course of the past few months. Now, as she looked the girl over, Luana saw a measure of that new strength in her face, but nothing else familiar...as she had pretty much stated, she could hardly imagine anyone would have anything to do with her now, since her usefulness had pretty much been expended and her captors were both humane and reasonable. The extensive information the Obsidian Star had on Kain and his companions noted that this girl was one of the starry-eyed waifs here exclusively because of Kain, a girl who fancied herself completely in love with the man and willing to do anything, even brave this completely alien and dangerous world, in order to get just a little bit closer to him. Luana thought that such a girl, upon losing her beloved lord, would feel fury and rage towards the one responsible for taking him away, and that perhaps might be reason to come here, for personal revenge, but there was no vengeance in Kazumi's eyes. There was something more along the lines of…perhaps…understanding and acceptance…?
"I just wanted to meet you," Kazumi finally said. "As I thought, you…don't seem like such a monster. So many of the Obsidian Star's people are creatures, beasts, but…here you are, as normal a girl as any of us. You…are a part of them, and willingly…."
"So, you can't understand it." Luana chuckled self-deprecatingly. "You don't understand how a normal girl can serve such a monstrous entity, can seek the destruction of the world? You're right…it's probably something you can't understand…."
To her surprise, Kazumi shook her head. "No. I do understand." She held up Luana's card. "This is the reason. Because of him…Pakrov Eminus."
Luana was silent. She considered the girl carefully, wondering where she was going with this. "To us, Eminus-san is, like you said…a monster. He's done so many horrible things to us…he's a leader of this group, trying to 'destroy the world'. But…to you he's much more, isn't he? You…understand him. You love him. He's important to you, and you would do anything for him…just like we would do anything for Kain-sensei."
Luana was quite bemused. "Is that what this is? You think…that we're alike…?"
"That's exactly what this is. I do understand you, Luana-san, and I think that you can understand us. I think that we can understand each other…as girls who are in love. I…I've seen a lot of violence, and fighting, and pain ever since this began…and I don't like it. I've…chosen this path, because of Kain-sensei, but…I still don't like it, and I don't think it has to continue. Whatever the Obsidian Star may seem, they have real people there…they are people just like us. You and Eminus-san are proof of that. Even if you say 'destroy the world', I'm sure a girl like you couldn't be part of something really that awful. But we've decided that there is nothing else except to destroy each other…that we can't coexist. I can't believe that's true! There has to be a way…."
Luana smiled sadly, shook her head, and held up a hand to forestall the girl. "No. That's wonderful thinking, Kazumi-san, it really is, but it's naïve. You may think that I and others of my friends don't want to fight, and might be able to convince our prince to stand down…but there is no other way. You're…right, I suppose. I do love Eminus-sama. We all do. That's why we follow him. It's very simple. He saved all of us, most of us when we were young. But we know he didn't do it out of compassion, nor really out of any desire to use us. In all honesty, we've never merited even that much consideration in his eyes. He is simply a created being, an artificial creature, a golem made to do the Obsidian Star's bidding. He has a kind of faux humanity created into him, which gives a measure of autonomy, originality, and emotions, but they are truly secondary to him. Mere curiosity led him to develop the most altruistic hobby of collecting war orphans and then sending them off to better lives throughout the civilized kingdoms. But some of us have just put too much stock in that debt. Even so, he is a creature of the Obsidian Star. He will do their bidding…and right now, our prince is enacting a plan which will bring an end to these worlds of man."
Kazumi stared in shock, wide-eyed. "But…that would…how can you support that…? How can you stand there and say with a straight face that you love the man who's trying to bring an end to everything you know…? I-I mean…he saved you, of course…but if you don't even believe he has any feelings at all about you, about what he's done, and…."
Luana clucked reprovingly. "I told you, Kazumi-san…you can't really understand. But you see…we have nothing else in our lives. Everything I had before, what little I even really remember, is all gone. I've never had anything else in my life. Certainly, there're plenty of good things in these worlds…and people I care about, even if it's only my fellow servants of the man…but we've seen the darkest, ugliest side of it. Misery and suffering are rampant. When you think of that, the idea of it ending isn't so bad. And once you've seen what the Obsidian Star really is…and what they are really going to accomplish…it can certainly change one's mind…."
8-8-8
"Truth be told, they can even be terrifying for us, Infernals, monsters who feel no fear," Xellos told Lina and Zelgadis. "Especially their Prince. The Obsidian Star was born countless ages ago. They have journeyed so far across time and space that it's meaningless to attach mortal numbers to them. How they began…I think only the Obsidian Prince himself could tell you, as he is truly their god. He rose to become the ultimate pinnacle of magic and beyond, likely by consuming an entire world. He may very well have been mortal himself, once, just a mortal mage, who used magic to ascend himself to something metahuman, like Kain-kun is now, and then beyond that. Probably too far…Kain-kun has become a being that exudes mana, but the Obsidian Prince, in his true form, is something so great he consumes it. And so he's had to journey from magical world to magical world, each time performing the same ritual: using his godlike powers to build his empire on that world, conquering it, and then consuming it. There are a nearly limitless number of magical worlds out there for him to consume, but I suppose the same old thing would get wearying after a while. Which is why he's now chosen to use this world as best he can: by combining these seven worlds into one, a perpetual magic world that will feed him indefinitely."
"But what about the humans of these worlds?" Lina demanded. "Van Grants and all those girls seem to follow him so willingly…are they that obsessed with the destruction of the worlds themselves?"
"Well, a fine question. It's hard to say…on previous worlds, from what we've been able to learn, humans were little more than insects, not even capable of enough magic to be worth consuming. Here, however…he does seem to have some interest in them. Perhaps it was simply from the years he spent cultivating his Crystal Princess. Perhaps, after the blow Kalan Lockeheart dealt him in the last war, he's simply so desperate for help he'll allow humans anything as long as they serve him. Perhaps there is a small portion of humanity in him that wishes to preserve some of your race this time around since this special world will make it possible, to make up for the untold trillions he's decimated. It's likely not altruism, in any case. But that floating island of Eldrant and the dream world of Cosmo Entelecheia seem to play a major part in his plan. Those humans who are truly exceptional, if they now serve the Obsidian Star or are willing to bow to it, will serve as the living human governors of Eldrant, and many other select members of the mortal races, perhaps millions, will be made to join the dream realm of Cosmo Entelecheia, where they will live out perfect lives of their own mental fabrication. It will, in a fashion, be a certain kind of utopia…you could certainly say that such a happy paradise would be worth the destruction of an ugly, flawed world of pain, misery, and injustice.
"There's more, of course…it is just a suspicion, but with this seven-world mana engine completed, it might very well be possible for the Obsidian Prince to manifest select dream worlds into actual realities. However much of his humanity remains, we can't know, but as one immortal creature who is interested in mortal races observing another, I can say this: the potential enjoyment of an infinite number of created possibilities, of all these human interactions, would be…very appealing…."
"If you admire those possibilities that much, I'm surprised you're siding with us," Zelgadis growled.
Xellos laughed. "Well, for our part, as fun as the wanton desires of humanity unchained can be, they really couldn't offer us anything. We are bound to these seven worlds, and we survive off of the negative emotions, the dark soular energy, of the mortal races there. Creating this new world and accomplishing the rest of this would leave us with basically no food resources, as it were. So naturally we can't let them succeed…."
8-8-8
Kazumi stared in shock. "Y-you know…all this…and yet still you…?"
"You might call all of us cowards, or defeatists," Luana informed her. "We've seen it…we've been shown the breadth of the Obsidian Star's influence, of the marks of its power, entire worlds left dark in its wake. Part of our decision…comes because we don't have the will or power to oppose that, not after it was responsible for our lives, too. And furthermore…with this world, these possibilities, using these worlds to make one perfect world…not only can we end misery and suffering on this world, but by making this a permanent home of the Obsidian Star, by giving access to all the created worlds they could want or need, thousands or millions more worlds in the future will be left alone, untouched by that consuming greed. For us, that's a sacrifice worth making…you may think us monsters, but we have no friends or family, no one, nothing precious to us except for our companions here in the Obsidian Star. But for you…you have your beloved Sensei, your other friends, family back on Earth. There's no way you could accept this as we have. We know that. And that's why we can never agree about this matter. I appreciate your willingness to try to accept us…but we've made our bed, and we're willing to lie in it."
Kazumi was silent, but a new voice suddenly cut in. "That's a very admirable sentiment, in its way," Jade mentioned, striding forward and pushing at his glasses. "Of course, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions…and the wrong thing done for the right reason is still wrong. Those are ghosts that we will never be able to exorcise. In any case, Miss Luana, we're planning on assaulting the Obsidian Palace now. You have already been very helpful to us, but…it would probably be most useful if you accompanied us inside. If you have no objections."
Luana stared in surprise, then smiled slightly. "I see. I understand. I suppose I don't really have a choice, so I'll cooperate…otherwise, it would be simple for you to haul me around tied-up and have one of those mind-readers using me, right?"
"We appreciate your understanding and cooperation," Jade said. "Miss Kazumi…we're getting our plans ready. Let's leave our guest here to finish her meal before we go." And he turned and walked out.
Kazumi hurried after him, pausing as Jade stopped to close and lock the cell door. "Jade…you're…heading inside with us…?"
"I am. Most of the adults will be acting as your diversion, assaulting the base directly…but I have a duty inside. That place is a replication of the original Orimus, which means it was created with my replication data. It is my sin and my mistake that are responsible for its creation…so I have to go inside with you to remedy my mistake, whatever the cost. There is some sort of engine inside responsible for the replication, so I must find it and destroy it. I trust I won't be a burden…?"
"A-ah, well…I can't say for certain…but I'm sure you won't…."
8-8-8
Kajirô stared out at the dawn light, the sun rising in the eastern horizon, still visible, if only slightly, even through the obscuring dark globe that enshrouded them. His thoughts were not on the light, of course….
"Is this where you are? Kaji-kun, everyone's getting ready…we should get going…."
Kajirô glanced back at the figure interrupting his peace. "Do we…have to, Hinagiku-san? Can't we…just forget about it…?"
"What?" Hinagiku stared hard at him. "Kaji-kun, what are you talking about? What's gotten into you?"
"Sorry." The boy turned and stared back out the window again. "I know, there's…there's no choice…but I just really don't want to go. I don't want to go. And I don't want you to go. I don't want…to face that danger again. But…we have no choice, do we? We're already in too deep. The Obsidian Star has us, and now…it's us or them." He turned back to the girl. "How are you holding up?"
"What? What are you talking about? Of course I'm fine…."
"No, I mean…what about Kain-kun? He's…been captured by the enemy. That can't be easy for you, more than anyone else…."
Hinagiku hesitated. "Of course…i-it's hard, but…that's the point, isn't it? He's been taken…so we have to get him back. There's no one else to do it, so we've got to! That's what we've gained all our power for." She paused. "Are you…afraid, Kaji-kun?"
"Ah…got it in one." Kajirô's tone was somewhat condescending, and Hinagiku narrowed her eyes at him, but he continued easily, "I…never wanted this. The fighting, the war, the magical intrigue and the rest…but I agreed, against my better instincts, to be part of this force, for…well, for good enough reasons, I suppose. But…after last night…I really thought I was going to die, but that wasn't even the worst of it. But…that…well…in any case, now we have to go directly into that dangerous place, right into their maw. I…am just so afraid…I know…it will only be even more terrible this time…."
Hinagiku shook her head. "That's enough, Kaji-kun! I…can understand how you feel…it was a terrible experience…but we can't let it frighten us away, right? We have our duty to our friends, our classmates, and the dignity of our school to think of! What's more…for you there's…that girl, the one you like, right? You can't give up now…you can't be afraid. You have to keep living, so that you can finally confess your love to her, right? If we don't do this…if we don't finish it…then you'll never get that opportunity. "
Kajirô turned a wry smile on the girl. "And…what about you and Kain-sensei? I suppose that you have to survive this, so…."
Hinagiku started. "T-that is…I-I mean…I-I don't…!" She shook her head. "N-never mind that! I don't know what you're talking about! We just have to save him. But you…there shouldn't be anything wrong with you confessing to someone who is just your friend and peer."
"No…not right now. We'll see. When it time is right…."
"Well, then…we'll have to survive, won't we? All of us…so that we can live to see that day." She turned away. "Well…there's no reason you have to come with us. We can't force you to go into that danger…we can't force anyone into something like this. But…."
"No." Kajirô turned and started after her. "Sorry for worrying you. You're right…maybe I could be forgiven for abandoning the fight here…but I could never forgive myself. Let's go, Hinagiku-san…our friends are waiting."
8-8-8
Arika awoke, yawned widely, and glanced, blinking sleepily, at the source of the sound that had awoken her. She started into higher alertness from the sight of pair. "Yue-chan…Shiho-chan!"
Sargon also stirred and glanced up. Irina and Erstin, now sitting on the other side of the room, were the last to rouse themselves. Yue hesitated, but Shiho jabbed her in the back with her elbow, eliciting a muted shriek and suddenly prompting her to gush forth her intended message. "W-well, the thing is…I…we all are…going now. To the Obsidian Palace. I…have recovered some of my memories, finally, and I know…who I was…and…I belong on that side. I…I hate to leave you…especially with…Nina-san like this…."
She hesitated, squirming, but the group remained silent, letting her prepare her thoughts. "Well…I…I don't know what I can say. It feels…it just feels wrong to leave when all this is happening…with Nina-san like this…but…you see, there's even a chance that…."
"N-no, that's enough, Yue-chan," Irina put in suddenly. "We…we understand…and Nina-chan would, too…you have to do this, more than anything. We're…we're sad to see you go…but…."
"No!" Arika suddenly cried. She stood up and whirled to face Yue. "You're going…to fight them, right!? Regardless…of whether you can use their Gate or not…you have to fight the ones who did this to Nina-chan, right!? I'm going too! I'm going to get them for what they did to Nina-chan!"
"A-Arika-chan…" Erstin objected. "Y-you can't really mean that…to go into that danger…!"
"Yue-chan and all her friends are going into that danger! I can't let her face that alone! I have to help…whatever happens!"
"N-no, Arika," Yue tried. "You don't have to…."
"I do! I can't let this go on anymore! I'm a HiME just like my mother, and I can't just let this go on! I can't let them get away with this!"
Arika stopped her rant to catch her breath, and Sargon chuckled. The girls all glanced at him, and he said, "You're very enthusiastic, Arika-chan. I would hate to see you go…after this has happened to Nina, I would hate to see it happen to you, too. Still, it's dangerous no matter what happens. Are you sure you want to go?"
"Of course!" Arika insisted.
"And me, as well," Shiho put in suddenly. "I won't let Arika-chan go into this danger alone…I want to help Yue-chan…and I want to get them for what they've done to Nina-chan. I'm not sitting by in this situation." She glanced over at Irina and Erstin. "You two, though…you should stay here. Even Pearl-equipped HiME won't be of much use here. If it comes to combat, I probably won't be of much use either, to be honest…but my Psychometry can be of help to them. But we can't leave Nina-chan alone…."
"Shiho-chan is right," the king agreed. "I'd feel better if you two stayed here with us. And as for you, Arinko-chan…." As Arika turned to him in surprise at this sudden use of her hated nickname, the man rose and walked over to her. "Shiho-chan is also right about mere Pearls of being little use, even if it's you. But Mashiro-san told me what we could do if we needed to use that other power of yours…if you needed the Blue Sky Sapphire…."
The blue gem suddenly began to glow underneath Arika's shirt, and Sargon reached out to it. Then the two blue gems appeared in the air and settled into his hand. "Our contract remains, Arika-chan. If you go, will you go as my representative…my HiME…and do this for Nina and myself?"
Arika's surprise became fierce determination. "Of course!" She took the proffered GEM and turned to Yue. "We're coming, Yue-chan! We'll do this…together!"
8-8-8
The White Wings gathered in the courtyard of the Governor-General's palace, all prepared to begin their journey. In addition, they were surrounded by their allies—those determined to accompany them inside. It began with their fellow 'Terrans', those who had been sent to retrieve them—Tear, Rin, Mei, Kajirô, Isumi, Yoshimori and Tokine. Arika and Shiho were there representing the HiME. Minsc and Aerie accompanied Hikaru. Inuyasha and Shippô were on hand with Kagome. Gourry and Zelgadis both stood by Lina. Natsu, Erza, Grey, Lucy and Happy all waited behind Nodoka. Delryn was also present, mostly being in the background, and even Jade and Overcast were there, with Luana flanking him, sitting calmly on a bench with her wrists handcuffed in front of her.
"Here we are…it's time," Jade intoned. "This is the force that's planning to invade the Obsidian Star…are we ready?"
"You say that, but we're planning on returning to Mahora Academy as soon as we've recovered Kain-sensei and Mai," Kiami noted. "Somehow, I doubt the rest of you are seriously planning that part with us…."
"Unless the Obsidian Star do something truly significant to the Gate, it shouldn't be a problem," noted Overcast. "The colonel and I, especially, can help activate it for you when it's time, and the rest of us who wish to remain in this world will just stand clear. But you can't expect us to let you go off without help."
"That's right!" Minsc bellowed in his usual bold manner. "Aerie and Minsc and Boo are Hikaru's comrades! We cannot let him enter danger on his own! We must do our part to bring the Backhand of Justice to these Obsidian Starlings! And in this we will earn the fame and heroic glory we so richly deserve!"
Aerie actually gigged softly. "W-well…I-I can't add anything to what Minsc says, here…."
"Personally, I have an obligation to go," Jade added. "I'm perhaps the only one who can put a halt to the Replication procedures. And…they are that far because of me…it's my responsibility to atone for my sins…."
"I'm still Lina's bodyguard," Gourry put in. "Wherever she goes, I'm going to protect her."
"This is the opportunity I've been waiting for," Zelgadis explained. "I've been accompanying for you some time with the hope of extorting something of value to me from the Obsidian Star…but the chance never came. Now that we're invading their lair…if I can't find what I want there, I don't think I ever will."
Lina chuckled. "Of course, since this might be the last Gate between the worlds for some time, I…might not be going through myself, although I'm going to do my darnedest to make sure you guys make it through okay. But even if I'm from Earth, Arcanus Myrror has always been more my home…."
"I already told Yue-chan!" Arika insisted. "We have to do our part, too! For Nina-chan!"
"And for ourselves, a spot of revenge," Shiho added. "It's time for the Obsidian Star to get what's coming to them…."
"Amen to that," growled Inuyasha. "Everything else aside, I have my own reasons for going after the Obsidian Star…."
"I really wish you wouldn't, Inuyasha-sama," moaned Myôga. "It's too dangerous…."
"Oh, give a rest, Myôga-jii-san," Shippô scolded him. "We all know that you wouldn't even be here if the Obsidian Star hadn't trapped us all here. Be that as it may…I-I know that I'm not much help, but I have to do my part, too! I'm sticking with you!"
"Aye!" Happy declared. "I know that feeling, but Fairy Tail won't give up!"
Hinagiku glanced over at the four human Fairy Tail members. "What about you four? What about the rest of your guild? Shouldn't you be with them?"
"The Master and the rest are going to assist in the assault on the palace," Erza explained. "But remember, Nodoka-chan is a member of our guild now. We've been her primary protectors and support since her arrival, and she's become our good friend—we promised to get her back to her home, and we're not giving up before the job is finished."
"It's two birds, one stone kinda thing!" Natsu enthused. "We got roughed up yesterday…I'm all fired up for some revenge!"
"We're not running away just because of the danger," Grey agreed. "We've faced things like this before."
Lucy sighed. "Of course, the invasion might end up being less dangerous than the assault…I'm not sure I want to be involved in either operation, but, here we are…."
Chisame glanced around at the assembled group. Some faces, like Miki, obviously showed reluctance and trepidation about their upcoming operation, but there was a resignation there as well—they all knew that there was no other choice for any of them, now, and most of the rest of the girls' faces were determined and even hopeful. "We're in pretty deep," she muttered. "But there's nowhere else to go, now, nothing else we can do…this is to save our friends, and return to our own world. Jinnai, is the El-Hazard ready?"
"It's fully recovered," Nanami agreed, holding up her card. "Once it was ready, I was up early, working on it—while it heals or repairs itself or whatever, it turns out any modifications made to it will remain. It was a rush job, but I found a guy here who was able to fix it up for me so it should have a better chance of surviving heavy firepower."
"You found a guy?" Erika asked. "Really? In this situation?"
Nanami chuckled. "Well…you remember that guy with the airship from the history movie? Cid? It turns out he's retired here to Orimus. I tracked him down last month and connected with him. He's been working on the El-Hazard for me over that time, and I went to him to give it some last-minute upgrades. We're still not a warship or anything—still no time for that—but if the assault squad does their job, we should be able to make it to the palace in one piece."
"Well, that's something we have going for us, at least," Miki muttered. "Might be the only thing…."
"Well, in any case, it seems our objectives are threefold," Hinagiku announced, businesslike. "We have to rescue Mai and Kain-sensei. We have to destroy this 'Replication Engine' in order to stop the Obsidian Star. And then we have to commandeer the Gate in order to return to Earth. Are we ready to go?"
"Almost," Momo replied. She was holding a folded-up piece of white fabric in her hands—Kain's cloak. She approached Nodoka, who looked at her in surprise. "Kain-sensei will need this back. I think…he'd appreciate you keeping it for him."
"More importantly, it might help protect her, right?" noted Chisame as Momo helped Nodoka fasten the garment. "Considering how often the Obsidian Star has targeted her…well…that kind of stuff is part of the plan, but still…."
"We should get going," Tear said softly. "The first operation is about to begin. The best way we can help them is by doing our part."
Nanami summoned the El-Hazard, and the party, with mixed feelings of excitement, expectation, trepidation, and more, boarded the ship.
F I N
Author's Note: Beginning the Assault
There's another calm in the storm here…the kids have to recover, but there's little time to rest. The final dungeon is upon us…our intrepid girls have to go after it, without (for now, at least) their two foremost leaders.
As usual…I guess I can mention the original. There was actually a lot involved between the sudden attack and the actual invasion in Negima. Negi wasn't captured, but rather his Magia Erebia was going out of control and he had to fight it. In addition, he had to deal with the fake Asuna, Luna/Shiori, and he had to make a few more contracts because for whatever reason Akamatsu-sensei decided to spread the drama of the kisses out to multiple periods and did not have the group businesslike make them when it was most convenient.
Luana's capture is partially going with the Luna/Shiori dynamic. Of course, Luna/Shiori was one of the most important of Fate's girls, his first (my actual equivalent, as will be shown in later flashbacks, is Ellis) but she also fell in love with Negi over the course of her impersonation. I had no real cause or need or justification for an exact following of that, so I junked it and just had her present. It won't be exactly the same…but having a present glimpse into the mind of the adversaries has some uses.
With all of my changes, this might be the most difficult working…the 'illusionary magical world' situation left most of our heroines with lost friends, as Cosmo Entelecheia used their new godlike powers to erase many people, including Tôsaka and the 'chief', Nodoka's adventuring buddies, and Yue's class rep friend. The wounding of Nina is partially that, and partially to drive Arika, to create an impetus for her similar in some ways to how Nina (accidentally) killed Erstin in the original My-Otome. I had something similar to the Keys the Cosmo guys had (the staff Dynamis wielded), but I didn't want all of these people erased—Tôkasa and the rest, luckily or unluckily, didn't feature in the invasion at all, even—so how to handle Nina's wounding was tough. I've finally settled on a way to handle her, as all these loose ends have to be tied up, but…well, it's been a weird case of mental acrobatics. We'll see how it goes.
Anyhow, the invasion starts…let's go….